Can-opener



(No Model.)

0. S. LOBDELL.

CAN OPENER.

No; 313,351. P33611393 Mar. 3, 1885 WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PhuXo-Lilhogmpher. WAlhinglOn. v.0

NITED STATES CALEB S. LOBDELL, OF STORMVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,351, dated March 3. 1885.

Application filed April 19, 1884.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CALEB S. LOBDELL, of Stormville, in the county ofBolivar and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and Improved Oan-0pener, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus which is to be used for cutting out the tops of cans.

The invention consists in numerous parts and details and combinations of the same, as

will be fully described and set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved canopener, and also showing a tobacco-cutter. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line a; m, Fig. 1.

Two standards, A, secured on a base,B, and united by two cross-bars, O 0, form the frame of the apparatus; but this frame can be constructed in any other suitable manner, if desired. A horizontal shaft, D, is journaled in one of the standards A, and in a standard, A, between the cross-bars G G, and on its outer end the said shaft D is provided with a crank-handle, E. On the inner end of the shaft D a bevel cog-wheel, J, is mounted, which engages with a bevel cog-wheel, I, mounted to slide on the squared part of an upright shaft, K, held to slide and turn in the crossbars 0 and 0. Above the squared part the shaft K is provided with a series of annular grooves, K, adapted to receive a latch, L,

pivoted to the under side of the top crossbar, O, which latch holds the shaft in the desired position-that is, a greater or less distance above the base 13. The shaft K is provided at its upper end with a handle-knob, M, to raise or lower it, for the purpose of adjusting it according to the height of the can. A block, N, held on the lower end of the shaft K, is provided with a transverse aperture, in which a sliding bar, 0, is held, which can be locked in the desired position by means of a binding-screw, N, in the block N. 'A knife or other cutter, P, projects downward from the outer end of the bar 0. A pin, Q, projects downward from the middle of the block N. Three stepped blocks, R R It,rest on the base at angles of one hundred and twenty de- (No model.)

grees to each other, and of these blocks two are fixed, and the third, R, is pivoted at its outer end to a lever, S, pivoted on the base B. The blocks decrease in height or thickness from the outer toward the inner ends, and these offsets or steps are pointed or made triangular, as shown.

The operation is as follows: If a can is to be opened, it,is placed on the stepped blocks R, and is held in place by pressing the third block, R, against it by means of the lever S. The shaft K is then lowered and the pin Q forced into the top of the can, and then the shaft K is revolved by turning the shaft D, the bar 0 having previously been so adjusted that the blade B will out along the edge'of the top of the can. The blade 1? makes a clean circular cut, and cuts a larger or smaller piece out of the top of the can, as may be desired.

I have incidentally shown atobacco-cutter operated from the driving-shaft of the canopeuer; but as said tobacco-cutter forms no part of the present application a description of it is unnecessary, and the right to claim the said tobacco-cutter is reserved for aseparate application. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the supportingframe provided with an operating-shaft and gear-whee], of the shaft K, provided with a cutting-blade at its lower end. gear-wheel 1, through which shaft K freely slides, but within which it cannot rotate, and a locking device secured to the frame, and adapted to engage the shaft K, to hold it at various heights, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the shaft K, having annular grooves K K, of means for revolving the said shaft, the latch L, pivoted on the bar 0, the block N, the bar 0, and the blade I? on the bar 0, substantially asherein shown and described.

3. The combination, with a revolving shaft carrying means for cutting a can-top, of the fixed stepped blocks R, the movable stepblock It, and the lever S, to which the block It is pivoted, substantially as herein shown and described.

O. S. LOBDELL. Vitnesses:

O. HAILE, J OHN NOBLE. 

